Basketball game



BASKETBALL GAME Filed Sept. 7, 1955 45 7 ll Q s l.

92425 `5 H2524? @ya 5w "f www I l l i n United States Patent 2,735,682 BASKETBALL GAME Robert E. Sweet, Minneapolis, Minn. Application September 7, 1955, Serial No. 532,891 6 Claims. (Cl. 27385) My invention relates to to basketball games.Y

One important object of my invention is the provision of a novel and amusing game capable of being played by two or more persons forming opponents or opposed sides or teams.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a game of the class above described in which the skill of the operator plays an important part and, hence, is highly competitive.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described wherein the ball is always confined within the court, irrespective of the force applied thereto.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a toy basketball game which is light in weight, compact in size, and readily transportable.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described wherein the spacing between the opposed baskets may be varied at will.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described which is relatively inexpensive to produce but is rugged in construction and durable.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings:

Referring to the drawings, wherein like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the several views:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of my novel structure;

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation;

Fig. 3 is a viewn section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a sectionalV line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary View in elevation showing the adjustable mounting means for my basket-carrying brackets; and

Fig. 7 is a view in vertical section of the structure of Fig. 6.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a generally rectangular courtforming baseboard. Preferably and as shown, the baseboard 1 tapers from its opposite ends toward the longitudinal center thereof whereat it is provided with a transverse rib 2, the function of which will hereinafter be explained fully.

The opposite ends of the baseboard 1, intermediate the longitudinal sides thereof, are notched as at 3. Striking levers 4 are received within the notches 3 and are horizontally pivoted as at 5 in a manner to cause their inner ends 6 to drop down under the action of gravity and thus elevate the outer ends 7. Preferably and as shown, the striking levers 4 are of less thickness than the baseboard 1. Therefore, when the inner ends 6, under the action of gravity are allowed to drop into engagement with the games and, more particularly,

view taken substantially on the plan taken substantially on the line table or other object upon which the baseboard 1 is positioned, a recess 8 for the reception of a ball X preferably in the nature of a immediately adjacent the inner ends 6 of the levers 4.V

Preferably and as shown, the opposite ends of the baseboard 1 are formed to provide reduced portions 9.

As shown particularly in Figs. 4, 6 and 7, the baseboard 1 is formed to provide aligned slots 10 one on each side of rib 2 and in spaced relation to the adjacent ball receiving recess 8. Slots 10 are, in turn, formed toprovide spaced guides 11 which are recessed with respect to the upper and lower surfaces 12 and 13, respectively, .of the baseboard 1.V Vertical supporting brackets 14 have ilanged lower end portions 15 adaptedto rest upon the guide rails 11 with the depending portions 16 being snugly slidably recessed betwen the guide rails 11. Adjustably securing the brackets 14 in position are margin screws 17 working through resilient clips 18. By this construction the brackets 14 and the backboards 19 and baskets 20 carried thereby away from each other as desired. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 5, limited rotary movements may be imparted to the brackets 14 and the backboards 19 and baskets 20 carried thereby.

A exible guide strip 21 preferably formed from transparent plastic or the like has its opposite ends bifurcated as at 22 with the forked lower end portions 23 rigidly secured to the opposite end portions of the baseboard 1 by means of screws or the like 24. Note that the reduced portions' 9 are received within the bifurcations 22 of the strip 21 and that the opposite ends of the strip 21 are secured to the baseboard 1 intermediate the inner ends 6 of the striking levers 4 and the pivotal connections 5 thereof to the baseboard 1. Note also that the guide strip 21 is arcuate in shape and overlies not only the inner end portion 6 of the levers 4 but also the brackets 14 and baskets 2t) guided thereby.

Preferably and as shown, the longitudinal side edges 25 of the baseboard 1 are provided with upstanding ball conlining elements 26 also preferably formed from sheets of transparent plastic.

With this arrangement the opposing teams of one or more players position themselves adjacent opposite ends of the baseboard 1 in close proximity to the outer ends of the ball-striking levers 4. The ping-pong balls X are positioned as shown, and sides alternate in attempting to make a basket by striking the outer ends 7 of the striking levers 4 whereby to cause the inner ends 6 thereof to engage and forcefully elevate a ball X. Ball X is guided by the arcuate strip 21 and by experience the operator learns the precise amount of force required to impart the proper trajectory to the ball X to cause same to enter the basket 20 carried by the bracket 14 adjacent the opposite end of the baseboard 1. Normally the ball is conned to the oposite end of the baseboard by the transverse rib 2 and the sloping of the board toward the opposite end will cause the ball to return to the opponent. In this manner each party is furnished with the ball shot by his opponent. To increase or decrease the diiiiculty of shooting, the longitudinal sliding and possibly even partial rotary movements may be imparted to the brackets 14 as above described.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects, and while l have disclosed a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be obvious that same is capable of modilication without departure from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a device of the class described, a court-forming baseboard, a pair of spaced basket-carrying brackets projecting upwardly from said baseboard one each in spaced ping-pong ball or the like, is formedV may be adjustably moved toward and relation to an opposite end of said baseboard, ball-striking levers pivotally mounted at opposite ends of said baseboard one each behindr oneV of said basket-carrying brackets and in substantial alignment therewith, the inner ends of said levers adapted to engage a ball placed thereover upon lowering movement of the outer ends of said levers, an arcuate guide strip overlying said basket-carrying brackets and the inner ball-striking ends of said levers, the opposite ends of said arcuate guide strip being secured to said base plate intermediate the inner ball-striking ends of said levers and their pivotal connections to said base board, whereby to iniluence the trajectory of a ball in the direction of the opposite basket.

v2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said guide strip is transparent, and is bifurcated at its opposite ends, said striking-levers forwardly of their pivotal connections being received within said bifurcations.

3. The structure dened in claim l in which the opposite end portions of said base board are slotted to receive said levers, the inner ends of said levers dropping below the upper surface of said base board whereby to define a ball-receiving recess.

4. Thestructure defined in claim .l in which said base board tapers from its opposite ends toward the longitudinal center and in further combination with a transverse rib extending across said baseboard at Said longitudinal center.

5. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said basketcarrying brackets are mounted for movements toward and away from each other and in further combination with means for positively locking said brackets in a given set position.

6. The structure dened in claim 5 in further combination with means for imparting limited rotary movements to said brackets on vertical axes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 

